Pubdate: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA) Copyright: 2009 The Ukiah Daily Journal Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581 Author: Robert Sharpe LEGALIZING DOES MAKE SENSE To the Editor: Taxing and regulating marijuana makes sense. Drug policies modeled after alcohol prohibition have given rise to a youth-oriented black market. Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do recruit minors immune to adult sentences. So much for protecting the children. Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit supply while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. Taxing and regulating marijuana is a cost-effective alternative to continued drug war failure. As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will come into contact with hard drugs. This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition. Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to think the children are more important than the message. Robert Sharpe, MPA Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, DC 20012 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom